Chapter Text
Ram finds out that the seizure wasn't just a one time thing in one of the worst ways possible.
It's a big football game with the Razorbacks. There's just started to be more daylight in the evenings so the game ends just after sunset. The cheerleaders are doing a special performance for their awesome win that involved lights. Lots of lights. Their uniforms are lined with lights and so are their Pom Pom’s.
It's really cool at first, but then it starts to make Ram a little nauseous. He zones out for a few moments. There's a weird fog settling around him. He feels like he's been here before.
He mentally swore. His stomach flips again and he pushes past the other guys to get back to the locker room.
His ears start to ring, he's shaking, probably because he's panicking. Once in the locker room, he doesn't know what to do. He pulls his helmet off and sets it on the bench. His whole body feels tingly and he keeps seeing those flashing lights in his mind.
"Ram?" A familiar voice calls. He wants to respond, but his mouth is filled with saliva and he doesn't know what that means.
He feels a hand on his shoulder. Lightheadedness washes over him and he slides to the ground. The person follows him down.
"Ram? Hey, what's wrong?" Ram tries to look up, he sees a few colorful blobs and identifies them as Kurt. "Feel weird..." He says, trying to swallow down the saliva. "Weird how?" Kurt asks, officially concerned. Ram feels pain… and then there's nothing.
Kurt screams a few curses when Ram starts to convulse in front of him. He doesn't know what to do, but he has the instinct to prevent Ram's head from banging on the ground. It already collided with the lockers a few times as his shaking body fell to the floor.
He keeps his hand there as a cushion. Ram starts to choke and Kurt turns him on his side as spit starts to foam from his mouth. Kurt has no idea if this was worse than the first time or not. They really hadn't talked about it much.
Ram starts to make a sound that has Kurt feeling nauseous. He's never heard Ram make any sound remotely similar to the ones he's making now. "It’s okay," Kurt says helplessly.
After a minute, Ram's body stops shaking and then goes limp. Kurt waits with baited breath for Ram to wake up.
Eventually, his eyes flutter open, and he instantly gags. Kurt keeps him on his side as he coughs up saliva. Ram spits the last of it out and relaxes slightly. Kurt doesn't know what to say.
"Are you with me?" Kurt asks gently. Ram seems to be zoned out and that freaks Kurt out a little.
After a minute, Ram blinks and turns his head to look at him. "Are you okay?" Kurt asks worriedly. Ram blinks again. "I don’t know," he said quietly, like he's panicking and trying not to show it.
"Should I go get someone?" Kurt asks, glancing towards the doors. "No, I don't want to be alone," Ram says. Kurt notices tears in Ram's eyes. "Okay… but you had a seizure, dude." Kurt says, his voice shaking.
"I think I’m gonna have another one," Ram says suddenly. Kurt panics for a second time. "Okay, um, you're fine, I got you," He says, trying to provide any comfort.
"Sorry…" Ram says right before it starts again. Kurt keeps one hand under his head and the other keeps him laying on his side. This one lasts longer and that's terrifying. "Ram, please come back to me, dude, you’re freaking me out…" Kurt pleads. Finally, it slows down and then stops altogether.
It takes longer for Ram to wake up this time. He coughs up some more saliva. "Kurt?" He asks shakily. "Yeah?" Kurt replies. "This sucks," he sighs. "Yeah, it does," he agrees.
"Are you done?" Kurt asks hesitantly. "I think so. I still feel off, but it’s going away...” Ram says before taking a deep breath. "Do you want to sit up?" Kurt asks. "No…" Ram admits.
Kurt stands up once Ram starts supporting himself. "I’m not leaving, just gonna get some paper towels." Kurt assures him before walking away. "Kay," Ram says, gazing at the puddle of spit on the floor. Kurt takes a few paper towels and wipes up the spit off the floor. "Okay," he says, throwing them in the trashcan.
"Can you help me sit up a little?" Ram finally asks after a few minutes. "Sure," Kurt says, sitting beside him and lifting his head onto his shoulder. "Thanks," Ram replies. Kurt feels his forehead but it isn't warm at all. "You’re not sick… he says.
"I think it was the lights,” Ram ponders out loud, "They made me nauseous and then I started to feel weird." Kurt hums in response.
They sit like that until everyone else starts to flood the room. "Sweeney, Kelley, my office." The coach instructs. Kurt goes to stand before helping Ram to his feet. Kurt keeps an arm around Ram to support him and they walk into the coaches office together.
"Kurt, m'dizzy,” Ram says after they shut the door. Kurt quickly sits Ram down in one of the chairs. Kurt pushes his head down so they're between his knees.
"What’s going on?" The coach asks. "Ram, do you want me to tell him?" Kurt asks, but doesn't revive a response. "Ram?" He nudges him.
He silently curses. "Sweeney?" The coach prompts gruffly. Ram stays still. "Kelley, care to fill me in?" The coach asks. "Uh, it’s really not my place…" he looks over at Ram who has snapped out of the trance he was in. "Kurt, it’s gonna happen again…" Ram says groggily.
Kurt stands up and pushes his chair away before pulling Ram out of his chair and laying him onto the floor. He kicks Ram's chair away and turns him on his side. He finds a small throw pillow and shoves it under Ram's head. The coach gets out of his chair and walks around the table.
Ram starts to seize again and Kurt just supports him through it wordlessly. "Can you call an ambulance… and his dad?" Kurt asks the coach. "Yeah… this isn’t the first time?" The coach asks, reaching for the phone.
"He had two earlier in the locker room." Kurt replies honestly.
Yeah… Ram isn't ever living that down. Thankfully, the other players on the football team hadn't seen anything except for him being wheeled out on a stretcher.